Pew Sheet – 1st March 2026

The Rector writes 

‘The Healer/Prayer group in the parish have organised to distribute ‘Luggage Tags’ along with the Pewsheet this week and if you would like to write a prayer on this, Tag, they can then be hung on the Prayer Tree in St Mary’s Church for the whole  of Lent.  The prayer can be anonymous or you can sign it – it’s entirely up to you. 

As you remember, we recently conducted a Survey with Sunday Club families and one of the requests I received was to try & run another Children’s Reading in Church Workshop to help our young people feel confident in reading from the church lectern. 

This workshop will be on from 10am till 11:30am on Saturday 21st March and if you know a young person who might enjoy getting some pointers about reading in public….. do encourage them to come along.’

Palm Sunday 29th March

United Service for Palm Sunday 11am St Mary’s Church plus Opening of Display of Crosses/Crucifixes in the Parish Hall (open 10am to 12noon and 2pm to 4pm Monday to Wednesday in Holy Week)

Monday 30th March 10.30am HC St Mary’s

Tuesday 31st March 10.30am HC St Mary’s

Wednesday 1st April 10.30am HC St Mary’s

Maundy Thursday 2nd April

12 noon Diocesan Chrism Eucharist in St Factna’s Cathedral, Roscarberry. All Welcome.

7:30pm   Maundy Thursday Eucharist in St Mary’s including washing of the feet.

Followed by Overnight Vigil in the church.

Good Friday 3rd April 

10.30am  St John’s – Morning Prayer with Litany

2pm Stations of the Cross in St Mary’s Graveyard with our sister church of Our Lady & St John’s

7.30pm    St Mary’s – Tenebrae Service 

Saturday of Holy Week 4th April

9pm St Mary’s – Easter Vigil Service, with the new Pascal Candle lit from outside byre.

Easter Day 5th April

9.30am St John’s – Easter Eucharist 

11am   St Mary’s – Easter Eucharist

During the first three days of Holy Week this year, there will be a display of Crosses and Crucifixes in the Parish Hall.

The Rector probably has enough to fill the hall by herself (!) but the idea suggested by a parishioner is that if you have a beloved Cross or Crucifix, or one that might be very special to you, you might like to lend it to the display for Holy Week?  Perhaps with a little note about where it was bought or what it means to you?   It’s very much like what we did with the Nativity Cribs a couple of years ago during Christmas time …

The Display will be open for viewing from 10am to 12noon and from 2pm to 4pm on Monday 30th March, Tuesday 31st March and Wednesday 1st April.

I’m sure it will be interesting but at the same time it will remind us of how the Cross can be a powerful symbol of our faith.

Canon Elaine

March 

Sunday 1st 

Mothers’ Union Famine Lunch, immediately after the 11am Service this morning.  Soup and Rolls will be served along with the usual Tea and Coffee. Donations for the MU Overseas Fund.

Wednesday 4th (and 11th, 18th & 25th March)

8pm     Lenten Study ‘Come & See’   Parish Hall

(also by Zoom, link in Pewsheet Email)

Friday 6th

World Day of Prayer Service at 3.30pm in Our Lady and St John’s Parish Centre ( behind the church).

All welcome and refreshments afterwards.

Saturday 21st

· Children’s Reading Workshop  St Mary’s Church 10am

· Youth group in the Parish Hall from 7:30-9pm 

· Charity Whist Night 8pm  Canon McCrea Hall (for St John’s Church painting work, see opposite page for more details)

Sunday 29th United Service for Palm Sunday 11am St Mary’s Church plus Opening of Display of Crosses/Crucifixes in the Parish Hall (open 10am to 12noon and 2pm to 4pm Monday to Wednesday in Holy Week)

(see separate full Holy Week Schedule)

April  

Wednesday 1st April

8pm     Lenten Study ‘Come & See’   Parish Hall

(also by Zoom, link in Pewsheet Email)

Thursday 16th April

7:30pm  Easter Vestry Meeting in the Parish Hall

APPEAL FROM ST JOHN’S CHURCHWARDENS

The Churchwardens of St John’s Church would be delighted to accept any donations towards the  costs (1,500 euro) of the interior painting of the church. They intend organising a Charity Whist Night on 21st March to help with the costs but if you’d like to donate something, please get in touch with Henry Forbes or Barney Deane.

Thank you.